Filings uncover ‘R’ movie investment

Through election financial filings it was learned that Hewlett Harbor resident and Republican candidate for the 9th Senate District Christopher McGrath invested $1,000 each in two R-rated movies that were produced by his friend, Joel Silverman, the son of the owner of Morton’s Army Navy store in Cedarhurst, where McGrath, 57, had his first job.

The movies, “Death to the Supermodels” and “Surf School” were released in 2005 and 2006, respectively. According to IMDb, an informational movie website, “Surf School” had a budget of about $5 million and “Death to the Supermodels” was a similarly financed film.

McGrath said that he was more than happy to help a person he has known all his life and has a track record of working with such movie studios as Disney and Fox. “As a husband, father of three girls and someone who has represented people of all walks of life, I will fight for everyone in Albany,” he said.

Incumbent State Assemblyman Todd Kaminsky (D-Long Beach) and McGrath, both attorneys, are running in a special election to be held on April 19, the day of the presidential primary in New York state, for the State Senate’s 9th District seat vacated by Dean Skelos after his December conviction on corruption charges. Green Party candiidate Laurence "Seth" Hirsh is on the ballot as well.

The 9th District encompasses Atlantic Beach, Baldwin, East Atlantic Beach, East Rockaway, Elmont, the Five Towns, Franklin Square, Island Park, Lido Beach, Long Beach, Lynbrook, Malverne, Oceanside, Point Lookout, Rockville Centre, South Hempstead, Valley Stream and West Hempstead.